Introduction
Welcome: Bud, Not Buddy and the Great Depression
Description: Bud Not Buddy, written by Christopher Paul Curtis, is a story about a boy growing up during the Great Depression. This webquest will explore the Great Depression of the 1930's. Your task will be to research the Depression through a chosen topic of interest and create a PowerPoint about your topic that you will present to the class.
Grade Level: 6-8
Curriculum: English / Language
Task
You are a detective, digging through history to discover more about the time period we call the Great Depression (1929 - 1939). 
You will:
-Choose a topic of interest.
-Research your topic as if you were a detective, digging deep to discover the past.
-Create a PowerPoint presentation about your specific topic. Your presentation must be creative and contain at least 6 slides.
-Present your PowerPoint to the class.
Process
1. Decide which topic you will cover. The topics are:
- Current Events: Bud finds that life is hard during the Great Depression. Describe what the Great Depression was and how it affected people in the United States. Include information about how the Great Depression started and "Hoovervilles", the "towns" that Bud saw during the story. Include appropriate photos from the Great Depression and information regarding this topic.
- Business News: Bud hears about the possibility of labor strikes during the story. Give some general information about labor strikes in the 1930's as well as specific information about strikes in Flint, Michigan. Include appropriate photos and information regarding this topic.
- Entertainment-Jazz/Swing Music: Bud hears a lot about jazz music when he stays with the Calloway's Band. Provide information about jazz music (often called swing) in the 1930's. Choose a famous musician from the 1930's and include some information about his/her music and life. Include appropriate photos and information regarding this topic.
- Technology and Transportation: The people in the 1930's used different technology than we do today. For instance, in Bud, Not Buddy, Lefty Lewis sends telegrams to let Herman Calloway know that Bud is safe. People also rode trains more often than they do today. Investigate the technology and transportation of the 1930's. Include appropriate photos and information regarding this topic.
- Children and Education: The children of the 1930's endured some very big challenges. In Bud, Not Buddy, Bud is an orphan and does not receive a formal education. Give some general information about children during The Great Depression; what was school like, for those that did attend? For those children who didn't attend school, what was their day like? What were orphanages like during this time period? What did children do for entertainment (games, etc.)? Include appropriate photos and information regarding this topic.
- Art of The Great Depression: Examine the landscape of the United States during the Great Depression and the many avenues artists explored as they sought to forge a new national art and identity through their paintings. Choose a famous artist from the 1930's and include some information about his/her art and life. Include appropriate photos and information regarding this topic.
2. The resources section has a list of several websites for your topic. Reporters should do research BEFORE creating their PowerPoint by looking at the websites and taking notes in your graphic organizer.
3. Using the computer and PowerPoint, create a PowerPoint (at least 6 slides) about your research. You will need captivating headlines, eye catching pictures, and relevant information for each slide. BE CREATIVE!
CURRENT EVENTS RESOURCES:
http://www.history.com/topics/great-depression
http://archer2000.tripod.com/1920.html
http://www.english.illinois.edu/maps/depression/photoessay.htm
https://go.fold3.com/1930life/
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_01.html
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1930s.html
BUSINESS NEWS RESOURCES:
http://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/labor-union.asp?layout=infini&v=5B&adtest=5B
http://www.history.com/this-day-in-history/sit-down-strike-begins-in-flint
https://www.thenation.com/article/slide-show-nation-marks-may-day/
ENTERTAINMENT-JAZZ/SWING MUSIC RESOURCES:
http://www.jazzinamerica.org/JazzResources/Timeline/1930/1939
http://www.jazzstandards.com/history/history-3.htm
http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/education/groovin-jazz-ages-8-13
http://americanhistory.si.edu/smithsonian-jazz/education/what-jazz
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_17.html
TECHNOLOGY AND TRANSPORTATION RESOURCES:
http://www.timetoast.com/timelines/technology-in-1930s
http://www.livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/water_07.html
http://www.thepeoplehistory.com/1930s.html
https://www.reference.com/history/technology-available-during-1930s-15f1ae59dbae6d4c#
CHILDREN AND EDUCATION RESOURCES:
https://www.reference.com/history/education-like-1930s-c7ae4262b986c0e4?qo=contentSimilarQuestions
http://www.wisegeek.org/what-were-the-effects-on-the-children-of-the-great-depression.htm
https://unionstreetplayers.com/2010/11/23/an-orphans-hard-knock-life/
http://livinghistoryfarm.org/farminginthe30s/life_21.html
http://www.tn4me.org/images/upload/File/Going_to_school_then_and_now_answer_key.pdf
http://academic.mu.edu/meissnerd/depression.htm
ART RESOURCES:
http://www.artic.edu/exhibition/america-after-fall-painting-1930s
http://www.americanart.si.edu/education/picturing_the_1930s/
http://xroads.virginia.edu/~am482_04/am_scene/opening.html
https://chicagology.com/chicagoartists/
https://prezi.com/pgewpjhkvk3y/art-in-the-1930s/
Evaluation
Conclusion
Thank you for all of your hard work! This research should have provided you with a clearer understanding of the time period called the Great Depression and allowed you to have a deeper connection with the setting of the book Bud, Not Buddy.
Teacher Page
Created by Mrs. Macdonald, 6th Grade ELA Teacher, Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School, Rochester, NY